Press releases

Following the launch of the Amazonas 4A from the Kourou base in French Guiana on board Arianespace's Ariane 5 ECA launch vehicle and its subsequent positioning in the geostationary orbit, an anomaly has been detected in the satellite's performance related to the power subsystem.

• An anomaly has been detected in the satellite's initial performance.

• The economic impact on the HISPASAT Group of a possible fault in the Amazonas 4A satellite would be negligible and service to customers would not be disrupted.

Madrid, 14 April 2014.- Following the launch of the Amazonas 4A from the Kourou base in French Guiana on board Arianespace’s Ariane 5 ECA launch vehicle and its subsequent positioning in the geostationary orbit, an anomaly has been detected in the satellite's performance related to the power subsystem.

HISPASAT and Orbital, the company responsible for the satellite's construction, are looking into the possible cause of this anomaly and taking corrective action. The satellite is currently secure in its geostationary orbit in the position where in orbit tests
will be conducted.

The economic impact on the HISPASAT Group of a fault or delay in the entry-into-service of Amazonas 4A would be negligible because the satellite's insurance policy covers all potential incidents. There would also be no disruption to the services provided to customers because a contingency plan is in place.

The HISPASAT Group

The HISPASAT Group is composed of companies with a foothold in Spain as well as in Latin America, where its Brazilian affiliate HISPAMAR, sells its services. The Group is a leading Spanish and Portuguese language content broadcaster and distributor, including over important direct-to-home television (DTH) and high-definition television (HDTV) digital platforms. HISPASAT is one of the world's largest companies in terms of revenue in its sector, and the main communications bridge between Europe and
the Americas.

Orbital Sciences Corporation

Orbital develops and manufactures small- and medium-class rockets and space systems for commercial, military and civil government customers. The company’s primary products are satellites and launch vehicles, including low-Earth orbit, geosynchronous-Earth orbit and planetary exploration spacecraft for communications, remote sensing, scientific and defence missions; human-rated space systems for Earth-orbit, lunar and other missions; ground- and air-launched rockets that deliver satellites into orbit; and missile defence systems that are used as interceptor and target vehicles. Orbital also provides satellite subsystems and space-related technical services to U.S. Government agencies and laboratories.